Talking Head presentation style is reminiscent of the college professor who began droning psychobabble in your survey course PSY 101 course and never stopped until the end of term. 300 students dutifully trooped in and out of the theatre style room TTH for a class in boredom. Many took the opportunity to do other homework, right letters home to mom and dad, to nap, or to zone out and doodle aimlessly. The point is that no useful knowledge was gained unless it was a promise to never take another course from that professor!
There is a time to talk and present information and concepts but it has to be skillfully interspersed with stories and opportunities for interaction with material and each other. Adults really prefer to learn when they can apply a presented concept to their business practices. They want to know how they can specifically take XYZ technique and use it.
Apply the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Silly) when presenting information to a group.
- Never have more than three to four points to make about your topic.
- New knowledge must be built on old knowledge.
- It takes time to make those links and build the connections.
You only have a limited amount of time to get your audience’s attention and keep them engaged with the topic. Don’t waste it on talk that does not engage and motivate your audience.
